Sure, but at this point, we’re living at a point in history where much of the modern economy (including the culture industries) were built on exploitation. Does that mean that culture exchange didn’t also happen? Of course not, but we do need to be mindful of that, and hence more critical of delineating what’s exchange and what’s exploitation.
Yes. it’s important to note that the border changed around people in the 19th century, in part due to Anglos moving into the area and making demands at the expense of others. But you’re spot on that it’s a multicultural environment, with a good bit of cultural exchange happening in real time. That doesn’t mean that cultural approrporation with economic exploitation also didn’t take place. Because it’s on the American side of the border, it’s still fully within a white supremacist system, and that’s not something to entire ignore or dismiss.
Seems like, and that should tell us something, too. I’m far more interested in how minorities in El Paso feel about him (his policies and his nickname!), honestly, than how someone who isn’t there feels about it. I’m even more interested in his policies positions on race, coming from such a multi-cultural place. What concerns me most is the people he’s hiring (which of course brings this tangent back on topic). We do know that policies that benefit corporate interests the most hurt the people with the least amount of power the most (and that means working class people of color, especially single mothers, happy mothers day!). So, I do agree that rather than get caught up in debating whether Beto’s nickname is cultural appropriation, we should wonder if having a former Keystone lobbyist is going to push his policies into the neo-liberal direction. Because that will be more hurtful to the working class latino community in El Paso.
I think it’s advice that we all could follow, my white ass included! 
